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Nürburgring Nordschleife Accidents

In early November 2017, the Nürburgring Nordschleife fell witness to an epic accident between many vehicles. While cruising around the track, one driver witnesses an accident occur in front of them. Due to this, he pulls over on the side of the road to offer assistance. By flagging down passing vehicles, he hopes to diminish the risk of additional collisions and injuries. Unfortunately, other drivers were plowing through the turn and many of them ended up colliding with the cars already there. These Nürburgring Nordschleife accidents act as an alert that modern safety measures are necessary at this track.

Nürburgring Driving Regulations

First, to analyze the Nürburgring’s driving regulations, we will take a look at Section 2.4. This section states “The entire Nürburgring, including the hard shoulders, is an absolute no-stopping zone. Vehicles with technical defects are exempted from this rule. Turning back and reversing is also banned on the Nürburgring.” From this statement, stopping is against the rules, unless there are technical defects. But, in reality, this initial accident would’ve probably led to additional accidents regardless. The placement of the damaged vehicles on the track would limit the ability of many other drivers to pass safely.

Who’s To Blame?

So, many may rise the question, why did this man stop? Is he to blame for the additional collisions? In my view, he did the right thing. The current Nürburgring system requires a driver to call a phone number to report collisions. As you can tell, any response by those on the line would not have made it in time to provide proper warning to other drivers. Let alone the fact the track is quite long at 12.9 miles leading to longer response times. This driver made a decisive move to attempt to warn other drivers of the collision risk ahead.

Audis, BMWs, Porsches, and More Collide in Recent Event

In this accident, car after car fly by the cameraman colliding with the vehicles ahead. Audis, BMWs, Porsches, and more were involved in this major chain accident. At one point, an Audi TT can be seen slamming into a BMW that is parked on the side of the track. Even the guy filming had his car join in on this collision when a Porsche spins out and slams right into it. The most important thing in this event is that everyone is not severely injured. Human life is much more important than any of those cars as a car is replaceable, a life isn’t.

Modern Warning System Options

From this catastrophe, concerns about Nürburgring’s handling of accidents comes into play. If Nürburgring were to implement a modern warning system, drivers around the track could be alerted to the danger ahead. This could be handled through audible or visual alarms. An audible alarm could be a siren that blares warning drivers of a collision around the track. A visual alarm could be a light system that is green when safe, yellow when caution is necessary, and red when there is an accident.

Sequence of Collisions on Nürburgring are Avoidable

Overall, the sequence of collisions that occurred on Nürburgring Nordschleife were and are avoidable. Although the track has a set of regulations for drivers to follow to minimize accidents, it is time for a modern warning system. Whether the Nürburgring Nordschleife puts up lights or sirens, either would be beneficial to safety. Although, there is the fact they may never implement a more advanced safety system. In the end, driver safety is the highest requirement at a track and improving safety should be a top priority for this track.

Christmas Tree Transport Safety 101

During “the most wonderful time of the year” (Christmas), trees are a tradition leading to roughly 25 to 30 million individual sales per year. Yes, over 25 million trees are sold every year for the holiday season. With this concept arrives the question, how to transport Christmas trees safely on a vehicle? Well, the reason for this article is to provide tips on exactly that! A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that debris on U.S. roadways led to over 200,000 accidents over a 3-year period. Some of these accidents were due to trees falling off vehicles. Hence, it is extremely important to ensure you follow the tips below to minimize risk in transporting the beloved tree!

Tips for Christmas Tree Transport

Now, the purpose of this section is to provide tips how to transport Christmas trees safely on a vehicle. The National Christmas Tree Association has quite a few tips for how to handle this. Here, the tips are broken down into simpler, more straight-forward terms for ease of understanding:

Ask for Tree to be Netted prior to Loading onto the Vehicle

Ensure Tree Trunk is Pointing forward Towards the Front Bumper

Ensure Tree Fits within Cargo Area or on Roof Rack Properly

Use Rope to Secure Tree in Cargo Area or on Roof Rack

A Blanket, Sheet, or Tarp Should be Used in Cargo Area or on Roof to Protect the Tree & Vehicle

Tug Tree to Ensure it is Properly Secured to Vehicle

Drive Slowly & Avoid Highways While Transporting Tree

Note: Tips #1 & #2 help reduce wind damage to pine needles.

Note #2: If the vehicle is a pick-up truck, avoid “hot spots”. These areas include regions above the exhaust, where the metal may be warmer than other spots of the trunk bed. This will help protect the tree furthermore.

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

To millions of people worldwide, the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year”. Hence, this article brings to light the concept of transporting trees safely. Now, there’s no reason to wonder how to transport Christmas trees safely on a vehicle. Simply follow the tips above and this should help with the overall task at hand. This guide DOES NOT GUARANTEE the safety of the car or tree during transport. That is solely up to whomever is in control of the transport work. Also, plenty of tree pop-ups and stores offer delivery, and even setup. Consider this option to save oneself the hassle of struggling with the transport. This may save the Audi A5 or BMW M5 from roof damage. In conclusion, transporting Christmas trees safely is important to everyone on the road, and the tree itself.

The Legalization of Marijuana

In recent years, Washington, D.C. and 10 states have legalized recreational use of cannabis, also known as marijuana. In these states, it is legal to consume the product and carry up to a certain amount (i.e. one ounce). For some states, growing plants at home is also legal, but refer to local law before doing so. While marijuana should be legal for adults 21+ nationwide, there are quite a few things to pay attention to, such as driving. Drugged driving is a major issue in the United States, causing unexpected individuals fines and jail time. Simply put, don’t smoke marijuana then drive. As of November 2018, the locations where cannabis can be used legally are:

Alaska

California

Colorado

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

Nevada

Oregon

Vermont

Washington

Washington, D.C. (U.S. Capital)

The Effects on Operating a Vehicle

Although marijuana can be safely consumed at home, a handful of people have a misconception of driving while high. According to the U.S. Government, 2-5 ng/mL of THC can cause substantial driving impairment. And, even more so in occasional smokers. While on cannabis, a driver is two-fold likely to have an accident. Although high drivers tend to drive slower due to the drug, the control deteriorates, especially in increasingly complex situations. Research has shown that the effects include:

Cognitive Impairment

Diminished Perception of Vehicle Controls

Divided Attention

Poor Lane Positioning or Weaving

Reaction Time Reduction

Not surprisingly, using alcohol with marijuana increases the likelihood of an accident even higher. This can cause a driver to have worse lane control and slower reaction times, while driving faster due to alcohols diminishing effect on fear.

Driving High Isn’t Worth It!

The Try Guys Test High Driving – YouTube

Simply put, driving high isn’t worth it! Don’t smoke marijuana and drive! While marijuana may be legal in D.C. and 10 states, each of these locations enforces drugged driving laws. This means that if you’re caught high on marijuana operating a vehicle, you may be arrested or fined. Is it really worth it? Definitely not. Simply place an order online for food via one of the modern ordering apps. This way, you can relax at home while the carrier brings your munchies supplies. Overall, marijuana legalization is a positive move forward, but only if humans respect it, just like alcohol and other impairing drugs.

Driving a Bugatti Veyron into Gulf Bay

On November 11, 2009, Lufkin’s Andy House drove a 2006 Bugatti Veyron into Gulf Bay in the La Marque, Texas region. With unique timing, a spectator filmed the event and posted it on YouTube. Nobody knew that this would change the man’s life for the next few years. Long story short, Andy House was driving down the highway when he veered to the right, right into saltwater. With the engine running, the Veyron motor flooded leading to complete destruction. The story may, or may not, be true, but that was up to the court to decide.

The Insurance Claim Dilemma

So, obviously, after the accident, the owner submits an insurance claim to the company to fix the vehicle. But, this was not an authentic claim, according to the tape. Lufkin’s Andy House, an exotic car salvage yard owner, will be spending 1 year and 1 day in federal prison. Why? Because the court states that this entire situation is insurance fraud. Furthermore, the defendant plead guilty to the event in the court of law. From a court date in 2009, the 2006 Bugatti Veyron was purchased for $1,000,000 USD, but insured for $2,200,000. This is most likely due to the collectible value of a unique car like the Veyron.

So, as seen above, the claim describes the accident occurring due to a cell phone reach. But, the video seems to tell a different story. Initially, the insurance company did pay the claim, but with YouTube video proof, took it to court. The court system is making the defendant pay back the settlement of $600,000. On top of this, due to insurance fraud, he will spend 1 year and 1 day in federal prison. Furthermore, he will have 3 years of release under supervision. This was definitely not his plan at the beginning of this situation.

One Hell of a Lesson & Story

Bugatti Veyron being fished out of a lake – SkiddMark – YouTube

Overall, this 2006 Bugatti Veyron crash is one hell of a lesson, as well as story. How many people can say that they crashed a Veyron into saltwater? Secondly, how many can say they went to jail for it? Well… not many. This was an unfortunate case of bad decision making that led to repercussions. To finish off the article, let’s make a simple, and important statement. No matter what stage you are at in life, young or old, rich or poor, always ensure to make the right decision. Making the right decision is the best way to go through life, and the wrong decision can lead to unexpected results. Just look at this guy, spending over a year in prison for insurance fraud. In conclusion, don’t crash a Veyron into a lake in the modern era of accessible cameras and YouTube videos.

The Responsibility of Owning a High-Powered Vehicle

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you accept responsibility for the safety of yourself and others on the road. The burden of responsibility is such that “vehicular manslaughter” is a felony crime. This is especially true for those who drive exotic and high-powered vehicles like the Lamborghini Huracan.

Popular YouTuber Alex Choi found out first-hand how quickly things can go south. While messing around on a public road, he recklessly pulled out right in front of a Yamaha R1. That move nearly caused a potentially fatal accident.

Who is Alex Choi?

Alex Choi has built a large following on social media. He gained popularity among those interested in modified exotic cars and extreme vehicle customization. Choi was messing around in his Lamborghini Huracan when the incident shown in the video occurs.

Choi, for some unknown reason, turned off the shoulder and drifted across the public road. Coming at him was a motorcycle that he claims he never saw. Thankfully, they missed one another, if only by inches, and nobody was hurt.

Choi immediately pulled over and apologized, but a woman at the scene was visibly upset and let him know it. The motorcyclist circled back and the two exchanged a few words, and in the way of men, gave a quick “bro hug”, and all was well.

The Lamborghini Huracan

Apart from reckless driving, the issue seems to be the Huracan’s blind spot. Owners are speaking out with complaints about the car’s lack of visibility.

“Every time I drive the Huracan, the way the car is designed makes a ton of major blind spots. Almost to the point that I would rather be driving a normal sedan if there was no performance.” – JetFalcon

Whether the fault lies with the car’s design, human error, or bad judgment, we are all thankful that no one was hurt.

Wrecked? Still Worth $467,500!

During the Monterey Auction at Pebble Beach in 2018, a wrecked Porsche 959 sold for $467,500. The car, a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort, is one of only 249 units produced by the manufacturer. Not surprisingly, many people are in shock as a smashed car racked up 6-digits in value. But, due to its exclusivity, this car is worth it. The Porsche 959 is a Porsche fans dream and wasn’t even legal to drive in the U.S. until 1999. Unfortunately, this car’s damage is from a series of unfortunate events.

The Story Behind the Damage

The wrecked Porsche 959 that sold for $467,500 at the Monterey auction was in an unlucky accident. The story begins with the car taking a journey in a trailer. From there, things so south quickly. While being hauled, the trailer disconnected from the vehicle. At this point, the car was simply in the grace of life itself. But, with a bang, the car hit a tree sustaining the damage seen in the pictures. Regardless, some people see hope in this car as a possible rebuild. And to that, EuroDrift approves!

The Porsche 959 is a “Thing of Beauty”

Overall, the Porsche 959 is a “thing of beauty”. Worldwide, many Porsche fans hold high regards to this car, even favoring it so. At $467,500, wrecked, this car must hold a lot of value to collectors. Hopefully, one day, the car will be fixed up and ready to hit the road. This would be sure to be backed by applause by Porsche enthusiasts around the world. In conclusion, the wrecked Porsche 959 has a light of hope to become what it once was, or better. Regardless, at least the rear end seems to be running ok!